How to Get Your Email IP Removed From a Spam Blacklist

When your emails suddenly start bouncing, or land in recipients' spam folders instead of their inbox, the mail server IP your account sends from may have been added to a spam blacklist. This is usually fixable. You need to confirm the listing, fix whatever triggered it, and then submit a delisting request to the blacklist operator.

Why an Email IP Gets Blacklisted

Blacklist operators flag an IP address automatically when it shows patterns associated with spam. Common causes include:

• A compromised email account on the server sending spam without the owner's knowledge.
• Missing or misconfigured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records, which makes legitimate mail look forged.
• Sending a large volume of email in a short time, such as a newsletter blast to an old contact list.
• On shared hosting, another customer on the same server IP getting flagged, which can affect everyone sharing that IP.

Step 1: Confirm You're Actually Blacklisted

Before doing anything else, verify the listing rather than acting on a guess. Check your mail server's outgoing IP address against the major blacklist databases.

If you haven't done this yet, see How to Check If Your Domain or Email IP Is Blacklisted for the exact steps.

Step 2: Fix the Underlying Problem First

Most blacklist operators will not delist an IP, or will re-list it within hours, if the cause hasn't been fixed. Work through this before requesting removal.

1. Change the password on every email account on the domain, especially if you suspect one was compromised.
2. Check for mail filters or auto-forwarders you didn't set up. Attackers often add a hidden forwarding rule to hide their tracks.
3. Review and correct your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records so receiving mail servers can verify your mail is legitimate.
4. If you were sending bulk email, pause the campaign and reduce your sending volume and frequency going forward.

Not sure your SPF and DKIM records are set up correctly? See How to Set Up SPF and DKIM Records to Stop Your Emails Going to Spam.

Step 3: Submit a Delisting Request

Each blacklist operator runs its own removal process, usually a free web form on their site. You'll typically need to enter the flagged IP address, pass a verification step (such as a captcha or a confirmation email), and sometimes briefly describe what you fixed.

1. Search for the blacklist operator's name plus "delisting" or "removal" to find their official removal page. Well-known operators include Spamhaus, Barracuda Reputation, and SORBS, among others.
2. Submit the request using the exact IP address that was flagged.
3. Keep a note of when you submitted each request, since some operators take a day or more to process it.

Avoid submitting the same delisting request multiple times in quick succession. Most operators treat repeated requests as a reason to keep the listing active for longer.

Step 4: Prevent It From Happening Again

• Use a strong, unique password for every email account and change it periodically.
• Keep SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records up to date, especially after adding any new service that sends mail on your domain's behalf.
• Avoid sending marketing or bulk email to large contact lists you haven't emailed in a long time; warm up sending volume gradually instead.
• Monitor for bounce reports or spam complaints so you catch a compromised account early, before it results in a blacklisting.